Metal box or receptacle for electrical switches



B. D. HORTON. METAL BOX 08 RECEPIACLE FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCHES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, 1919.

1,396,434, Patnted Nov. 8, 1921.

A r 70mm: 1

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFlCE.

BBYSON D. HORTON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

Original application filed May 22, 1915, Serial No. 29,738. Divided and this application filed February 15, 1919.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BRYSON D. HORTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of lVayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Boxes or Beceptacles for Electrical Switches, of which the following, taking in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawing, is a full, clear, and concise description thereof.

My present invention relates more particularly to metal boxes particularly useful for housing electrical switches.

This application is a division of m copending application 29,738, filed May 22nd, 1915.

Another object of my invention is to pro-- vide a metallic switch receptacle formed from sheet metal and having separate compartments, access to which is controlled by independently hinged lids mounted together by common pivotal means.

Another object of my invention is to make conveniently accessible for wiring purposes both compartments from the outside and with each other by a particular arrangement of knockouts disposed at spaced intervals, certain of the knockouts of each series being in alinement with the corresponding ones of the other series.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new form of bushing occupying the space of a knockout, which will present a smooth edge to the entering wire conductor, this bushing taking the form of a metal gromet.

Other objects of the invention will manifest themselves upon a reading of the followin specification.

Re' erring to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views,-

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a metal box embodying certain features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail in end elevation thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a similar detail showing the manner in which the lids of the casing are constructed and mounted.

In detail the metal box or switch receptacle is preferably formed with a body portion 1, made of a single sheet of metal and dividing wall or partition 2, which separates Serial No. 277,192.

it into two separate compartments. The compartments are closed by separate hinged lids 3 and 4, each made from single pieces of sheet metal. The lids are provided with extending ear pieces 5 and 6, which have common pivotal means 7, which connect them to the body of the casing constituting a hinge by means of which they may be independently moved to open or close the respective compartments. In order to permit the lids to be swung to an extent to allow both compartments to be simultaneously opened to an adequate extent, it is necessary to cut away part of the metal inwardly of the pivotal ears to allow the lids to swing toward each other, as shown in Fig. 1. When the lids are in closed position their adjacent edges are removed from each other leaving an intervening space, which, if left uncovered, would present an opening through which water, dust or dirt may enter and seriously interfere with the switch contacts and the proper working of the electrical conductors. Also interference with the electrical circuits might be had by the insertion of implements therethrough. In order to prevent this I form the partition 2 with a laterally-extending flanged portion 8, having its longitudinal central portion pressed outwardly as at 9 to conform to the plane of the top surface of the ad acent lids.

In order to render the switch compartments easily accessible for the introduction of wire conductors, I provide a series of knockouts 10, the knockouts of each series being referably in alinement with those of the ajacent series and preferably of the same relative dimensions and certain of the knockouts in each series differing in size from the remaining ones. In order to allow for the convenient wiring of the electrical units of the two compartments I may, according to one phase of my invention, provide readily removable separate closures 11, or provide the usual integrally-formed knockouts 12, or may bush suitable openings by means of metal gromets 13, the latter serving to present a smooth contacting surface to the insulation of the entering condoctor.

I also show an open wiring adapter plate 14 for closing an opening 1 in the side wall of body portion 1. This adapter plate may conveniently be held alongside the edges of this opening by tongues 27' as shown. For open wiring work a small apertured porcelain cover may be used to close a slot 24 in the plate and to provide a suitable arrangement of holes for carrying the wires.

While I have shown and described but one embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited in matters of structural detail, as the same will be altered Without departing fromthe spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the following claims 2-:-

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new herein and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A metal box,. hinged lids therefor, the.

hinges of which comprise extending ears connected together by pivotal means haing bearings in the sides of the box, a stationary partition extending from side to side adjacent the hinged portions and having a portion lying in a plane substantially coincident with the plane of the covers when in closed position to present a substantially flat top surface to the box.

2. A sheet metal box comprising compart' ments with a sheet metal partition between them, separate lids for said compartments hinged adjacent the partition by common pivotal means, the adjalce'nt longitudinal parallel edges of said lids being spaced from each other, a filler-strip formed integral with said partition and extending at right angles thereto, between the 'said parallel adjacent edges of said lids so as to occupy the space therebetween and present a substantially flush surface to the top of the box when the lids are closed.

3. A switch casing formed of sheetmetal and provided with compartments formed by a partition extending across the interior thereof and closed by hinged covers, said partitions being provided with a laterally' extending portion intermediate the covers and in a plane common therewith.

BRYSON D. HORTON. 

